Category: Founding Fathers
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John Marshall Childhood
Early Life in Fauquier County John Marshall was born on September 24, 1755, in a log cabin on the Virginia frontier. As the oldest of 15 children, he faced the challenges of frontier life, including: Despite these hurdles, John's father, Thomas Marshall, who worked as a sheriff, justice of the peace, and land surveyor, ensured…
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Benjamin Franklin Childhood
Early Life and Education Benjamin Franklin was born in colonial Boston on January 17, 1706. His father, Josiah Franklin, was a candlemaker and soap boiler. Despite the family's modest means, Benjamin had a thirst for knowledge from a young age. His formal schooling ended at the age of ten, but this did not hinder his…
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Thomas Jefferson Childhood
Early Life and Family Background Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, at the Shadwell plantation in Virginia. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a planter and surveyor who had amassed around 5,000 acres of land by the time of his death. From his father, Thomas inherited land and a legacy of exploration and boundary-setting.1…
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Samuel Adams Childhood
Family Background and Early Influences Samuel Adams was born into a world brimming with rigorous ethical standards and political fervor, drawn from both his Puritan heritage and his family's influential presence in Boston's governance. His father, Samuel Adams Sr., a prosperous merchant and a respected deacon at the Old South Church, played a central role…
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George Washington Childhood
Early Life and Family Dynamics George Washington was born into the moderately prosperous Washington family in 1732 in Virginia. His father, Augustine Washington, was a prominent figure who owned several farms and contributed significantly to the social and economic standing of his family. This provided young George with a stable and influential upbringing. The household…
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Elbridge Gerry Biography
Early Life and Education Elbridge Gerry was born on July 17, 1744, in Marblehead, Massachusetts, into a wealthy merchant family. His father, Thomas Gerry, was a successful merchant-shipper and former sea captain. Gerry attended Harvard College, graduating in 1762. Harvard's curriculum, rich in the classics, contemporary philosophy, and governance, provided Gerry with a broad understanding…
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James Madison Childhood
Early Life and Family Background James Madison was born in Orange County, Virginia, into a family that owned a large plantation and over a hundred slaves. His father, James Madison Sr., faced the moral and economic challenges of slavery, while his mother, Eleanor "Nelly" Conway Madison, provided a sense of security and stability during his…
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Robert Livingston Biography
Early Life and Education Robert R. Livingston was born on November 27, 1746, in New York City, into the influential Livingston family, notable landholders in the Hudson Valley. He graduated from King's College (now Columbia University) in 1765 and further studied law under William Smith and Governor William Livingston of New Jersey. Admitted to the…
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John Jay Childhood
Family Background and Early Influences John Jay's grandfather, Augustus Jay, migrated to America from France in the 1680s to escape religious persecution. As Huguenots, the Jay family were advocates for religious liberty, a principle that resonated deeply with John. His father, Peter Jay, prospered as a merchant before settling on a farm in Rye, New…
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Patrick Henry Childhood
Family Background and Education Patrick Henry's formative years were deeply influenced by his family's emphasis on education and spiritual values. Born on May 29, 1736, in Hanover County, Virginia, Patrick was the second of nine children. His father, John Henry, a Scotsman educated at King's College in Aberdeen, and his mother, Sarah Winston Syme Henry,…